Student films and on-campus events are showcased on Youtube for the public to view, courtesy of the Moorpark College film, television and media department’s official channel.

Students taking classes, such as production, non-fiction or in-studio, within the FTVM department get the chance to write, produce video and edit their films, with the help of theatre students as actors, before posting them on the FTVM Youtube channel.

Colin Silver, 19-year-old FTVM media major, has had his videos posted to the channel. Silver says that two of the classes offering the chance to put student productions up on the channel are FTVM M20-Introduction to Television Studio and FTVM M21-Intermediate Television Studio.

“Almost every film that’s final, the final cut of the show itself, is put on the Youtube page just so that everyone can view their project once it’s done and they’re able to share it as a FTVM production,” said Silver.

Michael Grimes, professor and TV/radio production specialist at Moorpark College, says that not only student work is being showcased, but also Moorpark events such as graduation are being broadcast live on the channel.

Last year was the first time the FTVM department broadcasted graduation live and they received around 108 views simultaneously, according to Grimes.

“We actually received an email from a member of the military who was overseas in Iraq, who basically emailed us and said, ‘Thank you so much. I was able to see my wife walk for graduation and I had the best seat in the house,’” said Grimes. “Just that alone was a reason why we should be doing more Youtube.”

Grimes also says that it is a great way for students’ work to be discovered, and also acts as a portfolio for their work as they can share their films by sending the links to other people.

Silver looks at the channel as a great way to connect and showcase what they’ve accomplished.

“It’s a great way to be able to see films again and connect with film students who have taken classes before and now they’re able to see what the current students are doing and I think it’s a great way to be able to share your work with someone else you know,” said Silver.

John Loprieno, interim dean of performing arts, says that it’s fun to see all the students collaborating together when creating the productions that range anywhere from movies to short films.

“We’ve got students that are doing everything from non-fiction, reality or documentary type work,” said Loprieno. “We’ve got students who are doing ‘Live at Club M’ every semester when the music guys come in and they have a band perform and then the improv comedy students perform in a theatre studio and that’s great fun every semester.”

The main reason for the Moorpark College FTVM Youtube channel, according to Loprieno, is not only to showcase student work, but also to put the knowledge students have gained to use through practical experience. Loprieno feels that the technicalities are not just being taught and talked about.

“We’re really filmmaking,” said Loprieno. “We’re really doing theatre and we’re really doing reality television.”

Viewers can visit the FTVM Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/moorparkftvm